Sheep-label



Y ing closed down.`

UNITED V' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAS. H. DANA, OF WEST LEBANON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SH EEP-LABEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,055, dated June 6,1865.

To` a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEAELEs H. DANE, of West Lebanon, in the county ofGrafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented an ImprovedSheep-Label, of which the following is afull, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this specication, in which- Figure l represents the head of asheep having my improved labels attached to its ear. Fig. 2 is a view ofa sheeps ear detached, showing the various positions in which the labelsmay be placed thereon. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of alabel ready tobeinserted through the ear, where it is to be closed down upon it. Figs.4 and 5 are views of the label after be- Various methods of markingsheep have been adopted by wool-growers to enable them to identify theirrespective flocks. It has been the practice with manyto paint or markthe sheep with tar; but the mark so made was not permanent, andthe taron the wool has materially increased the labor of asserting it. Theseobjections have been partially removed by the use of a metallic ringwith a metal tag (bearing a name or number) attached thereto, the ringbeing passed through a hole or slit in the sheeps ear. This ring isliable to be caught in the bushes, and the ji-ngling of the tag annoyedthe sheep, so that in trying to rid itself of the noise, or whenscratching its head, the feet were frequently caught by the ring or tag,.which was thus torn out of the ear.

My invention has for its object to overcome the difficulties aboveenumerated; and it consists in marking sheep by means of a metal strip(bearing a name and number) attached by passing both of its ends throughholes or slits in the ear, or by passing one end through a slit and theother end around the edge of the ear and closing them down` thereon. soas to leave no open space between the strip and the ear, into which thebrush can enter, thus preventing the possibility of the sheep beingentangled, and making a distinct and permanent mark for life.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention,I will proceed to 'as set forth.

about one inch from the edge of the ear, and

a fiat metal label, a, either plated with tin or 'galvanized to preventcorrosion, is attached thereto in the following manner: The metal labelis made in a suitable machine, (for whichl I have made application forLetters Patent of the United `States simultaneously with this,) and isof the form represented in Fig. 3, and' has stamped upon it the name,number, or other device required. One of the ends b or c, Fig. 3,1 isinserted within the hole or slit immediately on being cut or after theear has had time to heal, and the other end is passed around the edge ofthe ear, and the label being arranged in the desired position it isclosed down upon the ear by hand or by means of a pairofpinchers'.Thelabels d, e, and f, Fig. 2, are secured to the ear in any desireddirection by making two holes for each label, through which the ends ofit are passed and closed down, as before described. By placing the metallabel in different directions upon the ear, a shepherd may at a distancerecognize,

his sheep from those of his neighbor; or he may readily ascertain thevarious grades of sheep in the same flock.

The numbers on the labels may be recorded in a register, in order thatthe owner of the sheep may keep an exact history of the age and pedigreeof each sheep, with the weight and quality of the wool which it bears.

The label herein described may be furnished at a small cost, and, beingmade anti-corrosive, can be used without injury to the sheeps ear, andwhen once in place serves as apermanent mark for life. l

W`h at I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The within-described linkshaped label'for marking sheep, both ends beingfastened closely to the ear in the manner substantially CHARLES H. DANA.Witnesses: y.

JOHN TYLER,

GEORGE BLo'oD.

